Retaining notch for a container



J. 1958 F. A. DAVID, JR

RETAINING NOTCH FOR A CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26. 1954 INVEN TOR FRANK AM W0, JR.

HTTWM EV ited rates Patent O RETAINING NQTCH FOR A CONTAINER Frank A.David, in, St. Louis, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to CrownZeilerbach Corporation, San Francisco, Caliii, a corporation of NevadaApplication August 26, 1954, Serial No. 452,340

7 Claims. (Cl. 229-47) This invention appertains to an improvedretaining means for receiving banding or strapping materials and thelike for containers constructed of bendable materials, such as solidfibreboard, corrugated fibreboard and the like.

Many styles and types of containers and packages require encirclingmeans, such as band, wire or strap, to secure the container forshipment. One example of a particular style container embodying aclosure employing a banding means is illustrated in Patent No.2,214,220, issued to George B. Beaman, on September 10, 1940. Incontainers of this type, open notches are often provided at the cornersof the closure members to fix the proper position of the banding orother encircling means. Containers of the general type disclosed in theBeaman patent and employing closure caps having depending marginalflanges with notches in the edges thereof may be sealed manually or bymachinery. In the operation of sealing the containers, it is necessaryto force the plurality of the closure cap flaps downwardly against theadjacent body walls and maintain them in position until the strap orbanding means is encircled thereabont and secured in place. It isdifficult, if not impossible, especially in containers having four ormore sides, for one man to hold the closure cap flaps in position and atthe same time to manipulate and properly locate the banding or strappingmeans about the container. It is therefore an object of this inventionto provide an improved retaining means or notch for the depending flapsof closure caps for the class of containers described or other stylecontainers requiring banding means, the retaining means being adapted toretain banding or strapping means securely into position without manualor mechanical assistance.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improvedretaining means for closure flaps which, when banding or strapping meansare inserted in position, will positively maintain the closure flaps inproper relation for sealing permanently in place.

Another object is to provide a retaining means or notch of the typedescribed which has side edge portions adapted to firmly grip thestrapping or banding means to prevent accidental removal or releasethereof.

A still further object is to provide a retaining means of the typedescribed which may be adapted to provide a smooth path to facilitatethe easy tightening of the strapping or banding means.

Another object is to provide an entirely safe means for unpacking abanded container to eliminate the hazard of injury to operators from theflying sharp end and side edges of the spring-like band when it issevered under the high tension required to hold the cover flanges inparallel relation to the walls of the container.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the artupon a full and complete understanding of the construction and operationof the invention.

The invention also consists in the parts, arrangements and combinationsof the parts hereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specifiice cation and likenumerals and symbols therein appearing refer to like parts wherever theyoccur.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a closure for a container employing a preferredembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view of the retaining notchillustrated in Fig. l

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an erected and assembled containeremploying the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view through section 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view through section 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a modified form of theembodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a still further modified form ofthe invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of another modifiedembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a corner of thecontainer employing the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig.8;

Fig. 10 is a view through section ill-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a modified form of theembodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a further modified form ofthe invention shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a corner of thecontainer employing the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view through section M -M of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of another modifiedembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a corner of thecontainer employing the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig.15; and

Fig. 17 is a view through section 17-17 of Fig. 16.

A typical container A, as shown in Fig. 3 and embodying a preferred formof the invention, is provided with a body portion 20 and a closuremember 21. The body portion is made up of upstanding side walls 22 andfoldably connected side wall top flaps 23. The closure member 21 of thecontainer A illustrated is provided with a suitable closure panel 24bounded by side score lines 25. Closure side flanges 26 are foldablyconnected to the closure panel 24 along the side score lines 25. Doublescore lines 27 define the inner boundary of foldably con nected closureside flaps 28.

A series of spaced retaining slits 29 disposed in substantiallyhorizontal relation to each other, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, andpositioned adjacent the end edges 30 of the side flanges 26. Theretaining slits 29 are disposed in diverging relation as they extendinwardly away from the adjacent end edge of the side flange 26 therebydefining a trapezoidal shaped intermediate portion or tongue 31. Theslits 29 may be of any satisfactory length, however, it has beendetermined that a preferred length is one which will permit the bandingmeans to be posi tioned adjacent the corner portion defined by the bodyside walls 22. As shown in Fig. 2, it will be observed that the distancebetween the portion of the retaining slits closely adjacent the endedges 30 is substantially less than the distance between the free endportions 32 of the retaining slits 2d.

The container A employing the embodiment of the in vention illustratedin Figs. 1 to 5 may be erected in any suitable manner, however, apreferred means is to erect the side walls 22 of the body portion 2t)into upright, right angular relationship. The side wall top flaps 23 arethen folded downwardly in spaced parallel relation with their respectiveside walls 22 as shown in Fig. 5. The closure member Zll is then placedon the body portion 2h so that the closure panel 24 is in registeringalignment with the body portion. The side flaps 28 are then foldeddownwardly about the double score lines 27 and then the side flanges 26are also swung downwardly about their adjacent side score lines 25. Asthe folding operation is continued, the side flaps 28 are swung furtherabout the double score line 27 until they are in vertical positionintermediate the previously positioned side wall top flaps 23 and thecontainer side walls 22. In this position, as most clearly illustratedin Fig. 5, the side flanges 26 will be in firm contacting relationagainst the side wall top flap 23. A banding means, B, such as a steelstrap 33, is then inserted between the diverging retaining slots 29thereby deflecting the tongue 31 inwardly. The width of the bandingmeans is substantially greater than the distance between the endportions of the retaining slits adjacent the end edges 30. However, thedistance between the free end portions 32 is preferably substantiallyequal to the width of the strap 33. As the strap member 33 is insertedinbetween the adjacent, registering retaining slits at each corner, thestrap will tend to prevent the inherent tendency of the side flanges 26and the side flaps 28 to swing upwardly. In this manner, as the operatorproceeds to insert the strap 33 in the retaining slits of successivecorners of the container, it is absolutely necessary to provideextrinsic means to maintain the side flanges 26 and the side flaps 28 inposition. In effect, as the worker inserts the strap 33 in each adjacentcorner pair of retaining slits 29, the corner will be automaticallymaintained in proper interlocked position with respect to the adjacentcontainer body. The fact that the distance between the portions of theretaining slis 29 adjacent the end edges 34 is substantially less thanthe width of the strap 33, prevents the strap from becoming accidentlywithdrawn. After the strap 33 is inserted into all of the retainingslits 29, the overlapping ends thereof are tightened and secured inplace, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the operation of the invention, the tongue member greatly facilitatesthe easy tightening of the strap 33 into position. As the strap istightened, it is apparent, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 4, thatthe tongues 31 will be folded inwardly to provide a smooth, roundedsurface for the strap member thus greatly reducing the force required totighten the strap into position. It is contemplated that the inventionwill be employed on a great variety of containers, some employing morethan four sides such as hexagons, octagons, etc. While the frictionreducing effect of the tongues 31 will be most readily apparent in therectangular containers, which have right angular corners, it will alsobe an advantage in the other style polygonal containers. The infoldedtongue members 31 have also been found to substantially reduce the usualstrain conditions in the strap 33 at the corners of the container, thusreducing substantially the tendency of the banding means to fail.

The container illustrated in Fig. 3 may be readily opened at itsdestination by merely severing the strapping means 33. The retainingslits 29 are of a further benefit at this time since they act to preventthe straps from springing outwardly with the attendent possibility thatthe person opening the container might be injured. The strap 33, afterbeing severed, may be readily removed by pulling it outwardly,lengthwise from the retaining slits. The folded together flaps 23 and 2%and the flange 2t; may then be disengaged to permit release of theclosure member.

A modified embodiment of the invention is shown in Pig. 6. A relativelyshallow guide depression 34 is provided along the outer end edge 30 ofthe side flange 26. The guide depression assists the operator to locatethe ti. retaining slits 29 so as to facilitate the rapid insertion ofthe banding means. The use of the guide depression 34 is especiallydesirable in large containers wherein certain of the retaining slits arehidden from the view of the individual sealing the container.

In the variation employing the invention illustrated in Fig. 7, thetongue member 31 is omitted leaving an unobstructed trapezoidal shapedarea 35 between the diverging retaining slits 29. The embodimentillustrated in Fig. 7 is often used when employed on containers havingsix or more sides and where the amount of force required to tighten thebanding means B into position is substantially less than with therectangular container. In all other respects, the embodiments of theinvention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 are similar to the embodimentshown in Fig. 2, that is, the distance between the ends of thediverging, retaining slits 29 adjacent the end edges 30 is substantiallyless than the width of the banding means employed, while the distancebetween the free end portions 32 of the retaining slits 29 issubstantially equal to, or slightly greater than, the width of thebanding means B.

A further embodiment employing the invention is illustrated in Figs. 8through 10. In this embodiment theretaining slits are formed from acentral slit portion 36 which extends inwardly from the adjacent freeedge 30 of the side flange 26 to a transverse slit portion 37. Thetransverse slit is preferably in substantially parallel relation withthe end edge 30 while the central slit portion 36 is in right angularrelation thereto. The length of the transverse slit is substantiallyequal to, or preferrably slightly larger than, the width of the bandingmeans employed. As shown in Figs. 8 through 10, a strap 33 is oneexample of a banding means which may be employed with the modifiedembodiment illustrated. A rectangular band or strap receiving tongue 3%is formed by providing end slits 39 at opposite end portions of thetransverse slit 37. The position of the end slits 39 determines thelength of the rectangular tongue 38 which may be varied to accommodatevarious sizes of banding means.

As illustrated in Fig. 11, the modified embodiment of the inventionshown in Figs. 8 through 10 may be varied by providing a guidedepression 34 to facilitate the entry of the strap or banding means intothe central slit portion. The modified forms of the invention areutilized in substantially the same manner as the embodiment employingthe central and transverse slit arrangement and will maintain thebanding means B in place more positively than the embodiment of theinvention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7. In order to employ the modifiedform it is necessary to force the strap 33 into the central slit portion36, thereby deflecting the side tabs 40 temporarily out of the plane ofthe side flanges until the strap 35 is in contacting relation with thefree outer edge of the rectangular tongue 38. After the strap is inposition, the inherent resiliency of the material will cause the sidetabs 40 to return into substantially coplanar relationship with theiradjacent side flanges 26. In this manner, the inner edges 41 of the sidetabs firmly contact and engage the strap member 33 thereby preventingaccidental release thereof. The side tabs 40 and the inner edges 41thereof act to engage the strap to maintain the side flanges 26 and sideflaps 28 in position as the remaining portions of the strap 33 arepositioned in the other adjacent corner pairs of retaining slits.

The modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 12 through14 is substantially similar in configuration to the embodimentillustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. That is, the band retaining means areprovided with a central longitudinal slit portion 36 and a transverseslit portion 3'7 defining side tabs having inner edges 41. However, theembodiment illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14 is particularly designed foruse with wire or string banding means 42 as shown in Fig. 13. It isfound that when the Wire 42 is employed, the end slits 39, which definethe rectangular tongue 38 (as shown in Fig. 8), may be omitted ifdesired. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 12 through14 is utilized in a manner similar to the previous embodiments, that is,the wire banding means 42 is inserted into the central slit portion 36by deflecting the side tabs 40 temporarily out of the plane of the sideflanges 26. The wire 42 is then moved inwardly into the transverse slit37. The side tabs 40 will then, due to the resiliency of the materialfrom which they are formed, return outwardly into the plane of theadjacent side flanges 26 thereby eifectually holding the banding means42 firmly within the transverse slit 37. As the wire banding means 42 istightened in position, the portion of the side flange adjacent thetransverse slit 37 will ordinarily be deflected slightly inwardly asshown at 43 in Fig. 13, thereby providing a smooth surface at the cornerof the container for the wire banding means to be tightened against. Ofcourse, if desired, a guide depression 34 (not shown) may be employed inconjunction with the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 12through 14.

A still further embodiment of the invention, particularly adapted foruse in receiving wire banding means 42, is illustrated in Figs. 15 to 17inclusive. The embodiment employs diverging retaining slits 29 whichmeet at a point 44 on the end edge 30 of the side flange 26. Thediverging slits define a substantially triangular tongue 45. Inoperation, the wire banding means is forced inwardly at 44 therebydeflecting the triangularly shaped tongue 45 inwardly as best shown inFigs. 16 and 17, thereby providing a smooth path for the wire bandingmeans 42 at the corners of the container. It will be apparent that theembodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 15 to 17 will preventthe accidental release of the wire banding means 42 since the distancebetween the retaining slits 29 at the point 44 will be insufficient topermit passage of the wire 42.

Each of the embodiments of the invention illustrated have the desirablefeatures of providing means for retaining the banding means B in placein the side flanges 26. The embodiments also provide means for utilizingthe previously positioned banding means B to maintain the side flanges26 and side flaps 28 in proper position prior to the tightening andsealing the banding means. While various embodiments of the inventionare illustrated and described, it is apparent that in each embodiment,the banding means is maintained in place by the structure of the sideflange portions 26 adjacent the end edge 30 thereof. The retaining slitsin each instance are formed in the side flange portions 26 to define anopening which is of substantially smaller width than the particularbanding means employed. That is, the band retaining effect is identicalwhether diverging retaining slits 29, or central slit portions 36 andtransverse slit portions 37 are employed.

The invention described herein is not limited to the specific type ofcontainer illustrated. Strapping and banding means are employed withvarious types of boxes and receptacles which may also utilize toexcellent advantage the invention described.

It is thereby understood that the embodiments herein described areillustrative and not restrictive, and it is also to be understood thatthe invention may be susceptible of embodiments in other modified forms,and that all such modifications which are similar or equivalent heretocome equally within the scope of the claims next appearing.

What is claimed is:

1. In an improved paperboard container having at east four upstandingconnected together walls resulting in corners and a closed bottom, acover member including a top panel with sides substantially coextensivein width with the said walls and slightly flexible, but resilientflanges depending from and integral with the side edges thereof, theflanges each having side edges and overlapping an upper marginal portionof the walls and with adjacent side edges in close proximity to the saidcorners, and a band under high tension contactingly encircling theflanges to maintain same in substantially parallel relationship withadjacent marginal portions of the Walls; the said improvement comprisinga restricted band entrance opening at least from one side edge of aflange, the said entrance being in communication with and terminating ina vertically disposed edge-like seat for said band, the band being ofgreater width than the width of the restricted entrance, the seat beingof greater Width than the width of the restricted entrance and ofslightly greater width than the width of the band, to hold a portion ofthe band positioned on the said seat solely by the restricted bandentrance until the band is tightened and to retain the flying sharp endsand side edges of the band when it is severed under the high tensionrequired to maintain the flanges in said substantially parallelrelationship with upper marginal portions of their adjacent upstandingwalls.

2. The improvement set forth and claimed in claim 1 wherein saidrestricted entrance comprises a pair of slits diverging from ahorizontal plane inwardly and said vertically disposed edge-like seatfor said band is formed between the inward terminals of said divergingslits.

3. The improvement set forth and claimed in claim 2 wherein the saidrestricted entrance comprises a pair of slits diverging from a commonapex positioned at the edge of said flange inwardly from a horizontalplane.

4. The improvement 'set forth and claimed in claim 2 wherein the saidvertically disposed edge-like seat for said band comprises a slitconnecting the inward terminals of the diverging slits.

5. The improvement set forth and claimed in claim 2 wherein saidvertically disposed edge-like seat for said band comprises the inwardedge portion of the depressed paperboard between said inwardly divergingslits.

6. The improvment set forth and claimed in claim 1 wherein saidrestricted band entrance comprises an inwardly extending slit and saidvertically disposed edgelike seat for said band comprises a verticalslit.

7. The improvment set forth and claimed in claim 6 wherein the saidvertically disposed edge-like seat for said band comprises a verticalslit with a relatively shorter horizontal inwardly extending slit fromeach terminal edge of the vertically disposed slit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 79,441Boughton June 30, 1868 517,407 Grifliths Mar. 27, 1894 572,657 McRonaldDec. 8, 1896 1,322,290 Cibulka Nov. 18, 1919 1,480,358 Wirtz Jan. 8,1924 1,763,393 Fluellen June 10, 1930 2,131,389 Rhodes Sept. 27, 19382,214,220 Beaman Sept. 10, 1940 2,260,951 Mulnix Oct. 28, 1941 2,453,829Blackman Nov. 16, 1948 2,527,191 Lambert Oct. 24, 1950

